Skills are a priority for employers, say MPs

Developing skills will play an integral role in producing a world class workforce, experts from the three main parties have agreed.

During an ePolitix.com symposium higher education minister Bill Rammell, shadow skills secretary David Willetts and Liberal Democrat higher education spokesman Stephen Williams found common ground.

Diplomas, apprenticeships, further education colleges and the learning leaving age were all discussed at the Chartered Insurance Institute-sponsored event.

Lord Hunt introduced the topic by drawing attention to the Leitch report's impact on the country's workforce.

"For us in insurance and financial services, we are already experiencing a shortage of skills and that's bringing the whole thing up the agenda for employers," he said.

He then went on to state that if the UK was to maintain the fact that the financial service industry was the "jewel in the crown" as regards the economy, "we've got to do so by attracting the best brains".

And Phil Willis, skills committee chairman and chair of the symposium, explained that the Leitch report was both an "effective analysis" and an "alarming analysis".

By accepting the recommendations of the Leitch report, Willis said that he believed the government had taken a "courageous decision but one that I haven't seen happen in my lifetime and that is a big challenge for employers and it's a challenge of course for the government".

Bill Rammell

Rammell said that the government must focus on "significant pockets of problems in terms of basic literacy and numeracy."

He said the newly proposed diplomas will target "those young people at the age of 14 who've got real talent, potential and ability but who many of them have been switched off by being presented with an exclusively academic route towards educational fulfilment".

Additionally, information and advice is key, according to Rammell.

"The area where we've still got most to do is getting decent advice and guidance to people at the time that they need it, in a way that suits their circumstances," he said.

Thirdly, the minister explained that there needs to be a cultural shift, comprising a "genuine partnership" between government, the individual and employers on the issue of diplomas.

David Willetts

One problem with the Leitch report is that it "moves between skills and qualifications as if they mean the same thing", Willetts said.

He added that although he likes the idea of a demand-led system, the distinction between public sector and private sector providers is unclear.

Apprenticeships were backed by Willetts but he voiced concerns over whether an employer would regard an apprenticeship as such and called for greater clarification on these qualifications.

And in terms of FE colleges, the Conservative model of 1992 is one which Willetts would like to see widely implemented, when these colleges were given autonomy.

He also criticised some vocational qualifications for being "too behaviourist" and reform in this area would be welcomed.

Stephen Williams

"One of the scepticisms I do have with the Leitch agenda, although it purports to set out demand-driven system, much of it is actually focused on setting targets," Williams stated.

He did back the increase of vocational qualification offerings, saying that it was important that people realised if they haven't "gone down an academic path, [they] haven't failed in life".

And on the issue of the school leaving age, Williams agreed that more people should be encouraged to stay on after 16 but he did not subscribe to the "compulsory aspect" of the plan.